Fireproof unit for a sliding closure at the spout of a container for metal melt

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a fireproof unit for a sliding closure at the spout of a container containing metal melt, comprising a fireproof adapter block ( 21 ) that can be placed on the container spout, a fireproof bottom plate ( 10 ) connected thereto, to which bottom plate a slidable fireproof sliding plate ( 18 ) can be connected, wherein the sliding plate allows the sliding closure ( 1 ) to be opened or closed. In addition to the first bottom plate ( 10 ) connected to the adapter block ( 21 ), a second bottom plate ( 12 ) adjoins the adapter block. The second bottom plate can be slid in under the adapter block to replace the first bottom plate. The adapter block ( 21 ) has such a length in the direction of the second bottom plate ( 12 ) that the adapter block is in sliding contact with said second bottom plate ( 12 ) at the lower sliding surface ( 21′ ) of the adapter block.

The invention relates to a refractory unit for a sliding gate at thespout of a container containing metal melt, comprising a refractoryadapter block that can be placed on the container spout, a refractorybottom plate connected thereto, to which bottom plate a slidablerefractory sliding plate can be connected, wherein the sliding plateallows the sliding gate to be opened or closed, in addition to the firstbottom plate connected to the adapter block, a second bottom plateadjoining the adapter block, which second bottom plate can be slid inunder the adapter block to replace the first bottom plate.

Sliding gates at the spout of containers for metal melt are known in awide variety of configurations. A sliding gate which is used inparticular for opening and closing a converter spout opening isdisclosed, for example, in EP 0 819 488 B1. It comprises a housing framein which are located a stationary refractory valve plate (a so-calledbottom plate) and a refractory sliding plate held in a sliding unit andwhich can be displaced relative to said bottom plate. The sliding platecan be pressed tightly against a lower sliding surface of the bottomplate with its upper sliding surface. The housing frame is releaseablyattached to a base plate secured to the container, it being possible tobrace the bottom plate over its upper sliding surface with a refractoryspout head part inserted into the base plate. During casting operationthe refractory parts are subjected to strong wear and tear. It istherefore necessary to replace them relatively frequently. For thispurpose the housing frame must be respectively detached from the baseplate.

The present invention is based upon the object of providing a refractoryunit for a sliding gate at the spout of a container for metal melt, inparticular a converter, in which the exchangeability in particular ofthe refractory bottom plates of this unit can be implemented reliablyand easily.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a valve platehaving the features of claim 1 and by a sliding gate having the featuresof claim 5.

Further preferred configurations of the valve plate according to theinvention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

With the refractory unit according to the invention replacement of thebottom plates when the sliding gate is fitted can be implemented withoutany problem.

In the following the invention is described in more detail by means ofthe drawings. These show as follows:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a sliding gate with a cassette located inan initial position and containing two bottom plates; and

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the sliding gate according to FIG. 5, withthe cassette in a final position.

A sliding gate 1 according to FIG. 1 is preferably disposed on the spoutof a converter of which only a base plate 32 carrying the sliding gate 1is visible, in which a refractory adapter block 21 is fitted. Thesliding gate 1 has a housing frame 30 with a cassette 40 in which arefractory bottom plate 10 and a second bottom plate 12 that is alsorefractory are inserted. Furthermore, there is disposed in the housingframe 30 a slider unit 20 with a refractory sliding plate 18 and arefractory spout cover 19 connected to the latter.

For the opening and closing of the sliding gate 1 the slider unit 20 ismoved perpendicularly to the image plane together with the sliding plate18 and the spout cover 19 located beneath the latter, this not beingillustrated in detail.

In the sliding gate 1 the one bottom plate 10 can be moved out of theoperating position by displacing the cassette 40 by means of a drive 34provided for example as a cylinder unit and be replaced by the othervalve plate 12 without having to dismantle the housing frame 30.

FIG. 2 shows the refractory unit 5 for the sliding gate 1 which isprovided with a refractory adapter block 21 than can be placed on thecontainer spout. Connected to this is the refractory bottom plate 10 towhich the displaceable refractory sliding plate 18 and the spout cover19 can be connected. There is a second bottom plate 12 adjacent to thefirst bottom plate 10 connected to the adapter block 21. The two bottomplates 10, 12 are advantageously designed with identical externaldimensions, the first bottom plate 10 being aligned with its openingconcentric to that of the adapter block 21.

According to the invention the adapter block 21 has a length in thedirection of the second bottom plate 12 such that it is in slidingcontact with its lower sliding surface 21′ with this second bottom plate12. Advantageously the adapter block 21 is in sliding contact with thissecond bottom plate 12 at least over a length of a couple ofmillimetres.

The adapter block 21 has a round external form and correspondingly liesin the form of segments on the upper sliding surface 12′ of the secondbottom plate 12. It is provided on its lower sliding surface 21′, atleast in the region standing with this second bottom plate 12, withbevelling 29. Advantageously such bevelling 29 is also provided oppositeif the bottom plate 10 is slid in from the other side.

The refractory parts of this refractory unit 5 respectively comprise atleast one zircon insert or the like and a refractory mass surroundingthe latter. In addition, there are also metal cassettes respectivelyforming the outer periphery. A gradation 10″, 12″, 18″ provided allaround is respectively assigned to the bottom or slider plate whichenables almost play-free insertion of the latter into the housing frame30 or into the slider unit 20.

1. A refractory unit for a sliding gate at the spout of a containercontaining metal melt, comprising a refractory adapter block (21) thatcan be placed on the container spout, a refractory bottom plate (10)connected thereto, against which bottom plate a slidable refractorysliding plate (18) can be pressed, wherein the sliding plate allows thesliding gate (1) to be opened or closed, in addition to the first bottomplate connected to the adapter block (21), a second bottom plateadjoining the adapter block, which second bottom plate can be slid inunder the adapter block to replace the first bottom plate, characterisedin that the adapter block (21) has a length in the direction of thesecond bottom plate (12) such that it is in sliding contact with itslower sliding surface (21′) with this second bottom plate (12).
 2. Therefractory unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapterblock (21) is in sliding contact with this second bottom plate (12) atleast over a length of a couple of millimetres.
 3. The refractory unitaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter block (21) has around external form and lies in the form of segments on the uppersliding surface (12′) of the second bottom plate (12).
 4. The refractoryunit according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter block (21)has bevelling (29) on its lower sliding surface (21′), at least in theregion standing with this second bottom plate (12).
 5. The refractoryunit according to claim 1, characterised in that the first and thesecond bottom plate (10, 12) are designed with identical externaldimensions, the first bottom plate (10) being aligned with its openingconcentric to that of the adapter block (21).
 6. The refractory unitaccording to claim 1, characterised in that a gradation (10″, 12″)provided all around is assigned respectively to the bottom plates (10,12) for insertion into a housing frame (3) and which are arrangedagainst the adapter block (21).
 7. A sliding gate comprising arefractory unit according to claim 1, comprising a housing frame (30)that can be attached to a spout of the container for holding arefractory bottom plate (10) and a slider unit (20) comprising arefractory sliding plate (18) that can be pressed tight against thebottom plate (10), there being a second bottom plate (12) adjacent tothe first bottom plate (10) connected to an adapter block (21) that canbe used with the container spout, which second bottom plate can be slidin under the adapter block to replace the first bottom plate,characterised in that the adapter block (21) has in the direction of thesecond bottom plate (12) a length such that it is in sliding contactwith this second bottom plate (12) with its lower sliding surface (21′),a cassette (40) comprising at least two bottom plates that can be heldnext to one another being contained in the housing frame (30), thecassette (40) being displaceable in the housing frame (30) such that thebottom plate (10) located in the operating position can be replaced bythe second bottom plate (12).
 8. The sliding gate according to claim 7,characterised in that the cassette (40) can be displaced to and frobetween an initial position and a final position by means of a drive(34).
 9. The sliding gate according to claim 7, characterised in thatthe cassette (40) has edging with a graduated profile in which thebottom plate (10) and the second bottom plate (12) are inserted almostwithout any play.